About

Jonathan Tetley graduated with a Diploma in Art & Design from Bristol Polytechnic, initially working as an illustrator and book designer before repair and conservation of carpets and textiles, which he has now been undertaking for over thirty years, formerly as co-founder of the Carpet Conservation Workshop and later as the Tetley Workshop.

Jonathan Tetley Dip AD, BA is a conservator/restorer with 35 years of conservation experience and research, specialising in carpet conservation.

As part of his continuing professional development, Jonathan has: –

  • hosted ICON Internships
  • maintained membership ICON (The Institute of Conservation for the UK) in keeping with the internationally agreed set of conservation ethics
  • presented papers on carpet and textile conservation on:
    • on the project for replacing the glazing of a Burne-Jones tapestry whilst undertaking remedial treatment to the ICON Textiles Group Forum
    • on the project for handling a large carpet during lockdown, its survey and remedial treament whilst preparing it for storage to the ICON Textiles Group Forum
    • wet-cleaning methods at the ICON Textiles Wet Cleaning symposium held at St. Fagan’s Museum, Cardiff
    • on carpet conservation at the National Trust conservation conference held at The University of East Anglia.
  • Undertaken CPD courses:
    • A one day dyeing course with Alison Lister ACR, working with Lanaset dyes to produce a batch of swatches.
    • A short course with Dr. Richard Wolbers to learn about assessing the state of the object through testing using pH and conductivity to construct matched cleaning solutions to the conditions of the object and to leave it at rest in its found environment.
    • A short course at The University of Bradford studying historic and archaeological textiles analysis.
    • An introductory course in textile conservation at The Institute for Archaeology in London

Heather Tetley graduated from Hornsea College of Art, after which she practised as a jewellery designer, goldsmith and teacher in the UK and the USA. She then undertook training in carpet repair and conservation, after which she co- founded the Carpet Conservation Workshop, later the Tetley Workshop, with Jonathan Tetley.

Heather Tetley NDD, TPC Acr is an accredited conservator with 35 years of conservation experience and research, specialising in carpet conservation. She has been a Royal Warrant Holder by Appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II for Conservation of Carpets

As part of her continuing professional development, Heather has: –

  • hosted ICON Internships, is a listed Mentor for Icon Accreditation & CPD, Member of the Icon Taskforce for the Advocacy of Conservation
  • maintained membership of The International Institute of Conservation (IIC)  and as a member of ICON (The Institute of Conservation for the UK) ethical criteria of conservation are observed by the workshop, in keeping with the internationally agreed set of conservation ethics
  • presented papers on British carpet & conservation at:
    • The IIC conference 2013 on the conservation of decorative objects in Vienna,  “Underfoot and overlooked, the history of British carpets”
    • The annual forums of Icon Textile and the Icon Historic Interiors
    • Talks on carpet conservation at the Axminster Museum and local arts groups
  • convened West Dean CPD courses:
    • Professional Conservators in Practice
    • 2013. Carpet Conservation
    • 2015. Floor to Ceiling, Conservation of Historic Interiors

They both founded The Tetley Workshop, which was developed specifically to meet the need for conservation treatments to carpets, with their very varied uses and owners.

Past projects include conservation projects undertaken for: –

The Royal Household, The Royal Collection, The National Trust, English Heritage The V&A Museum, Glasgow Museum, Historic Houses such as Harewood house, as well as numerous carpets and tapestries belonging to private collectors and owners and institutions.

The Tetley Workshop has been at the forefront of both remedial and preventive conservation for carpets and textiles for over 35 years. Many of the pieces cared for belong to the National Trust, English Heritage, Royal Collection Trust and other such institutions; others are part of private collections.

Our work includes preventive conservation, cleaning, repair, infestation treatments, consultations & analysis, surveys, storage, transport & handling, freezing, project management and training.

A record is put together of each project undertaken, including surveys, diagrams where necessary, photographs, the recording of treatments, observations and timings, as well as a statement of condition before and after, with associated research into its past and use of materials, where appropriate. This becomes part of the history of the piece.

Over time, a team of conservators has been built up which can respond to the different requirements of conservation, restoration and overall care.